I feel like theres no good racquets nowadays

[myfavoritesportistennis]

Ive demo the head gravity, the yonex 97, the blade 98, the pure drive, etc ..... all of them sucks

Theres no actually pro sticks on the market or what is going on

 

[myfavoritesportistennis]

The gravity felt like a toy,
the yonex felt weird
the blade felt too head light and small
the pure drive has no control

 

[Rosstour]

TF40

 

[Blahovic]

Ive demo the head gravity, the yonex 97, the blade 98, the pure drive, etc ..... all of them sucks

Theres no actually pro sticks on the market or what is going on

There is the Head Pro Tour 2.0, the Wilson RF97, the Volkl C10, the Prince Phantom line, the Pure Strike 18x20 which are all used by current pros or strongly resemble "old school" racquets. That's just off the top of my head.

Plus there are more niche/custom racquet manufacturers like Diadem or Angell or Zus, there are "platform racquets" like the Head Extreme Tour and the Dunlop CX Tour 16x19, there's Wilson Pro Labs.

Honestly feel like it's a great time in terms of options, probably much better than a few years ago.

 

[FoldingChair]

Ive demo the head gravity, the yonex 97, the blade 98, the pure drive, etc ..... all of them sucks

Theres no actually pro sticks on the market or what is going on

Because there aren’t any pro/pro’s sticks on the retail market. Unless Wilson pro labs counts

 

[joah310]

Because there aren’t any pro/pro’s sticks on the retail market. Unless Wilson pro labs counts

I mean the gravity pro mold and I think layup is used on the pro circuit notably by zverev.

 

[PKorda]

Maybe it's the player...

 

[myfavoritesportistennis]

There is the Head Pro Tour 2.0, the Wilson RF97, the Volkl C10, the Prince Phantom line, the Pure Strike 18x20 which are all used by current pros or strongly resemble "old school" racquets. That's just off the top of my head.

Plus there are more niche/custom racquet manufacturers like Diadem or Angell or Zus, there are "platform racquets" like the Head Extreme Tour and the Dunlop CX Tour 16x19, there's Wilson Pro Labs.

Honestly feel like it's a great time in terms of options, probably much better than a few years ago.

The only one good racquet ive tested is the Dunlop CX one honestly the other ones suckwd

 

[myfavoritesportistennis]

There is the Head Pro Tour 2.0, the Wilson RF97, the Volkl C10, the Prince Phantom line, the Pure Strike 18x20 which are all used by current pros or strongly resemble "old school" racquets. That's just off the top of my head.

Plus there are more niche/custom racquet manufacturers like Diadem or Angell or Zus, there are "platform racquets" like the Head Extreme Tour and the Dunlop CX Tour 16x19, there's Wilson Pro Labs.

Honestly feel like it's a great time in terms of options, probably much better than a few years ago.

Yeah Maybe theres good options, but nowadays the feel of the raquets its not really solid, the raquets feel like pure marketing and its like going to the toy store to buy a racquet toy for a children... not for a pro

 

[One Handed Dynasty]

There is the Head Pro Tour 2.0, the Wilson RF97, the Volkl C10, the Prince Phantom line, the Pure Strike 18x20 which are all used by current pros or strongly resemble "old school" racquets. That's just off the top of my head.

Plus there are more niche/custom racquet manufacturers like Diadem or Angell or Zus, there are "platform racquets" like the Head Extreme Tour and the Dunlop CX Tour 16x19, there's Wilson Pro Labs.

Honestly feel like it's a great time in terms of options, probably much better than a few years ago.

Agreed. So far 2020s are featuring immensely better options than the 2010s. Best prestige mid in recent memory, extreme tour, PT 2.0, clash, RF97, Wilson pro labs, Yonex, 93p 14x18, purestrike, and some I missed. If you can’t find anything good with that selection, then the problem might be you.

 

[EggSalad]

As someone that grew up playing in the 80s and 90s, I drool over what is available now. If I could have had modern sticks when I played in the 90s, wowza I would have been a much better junior.

If anything, there are too many choices and data these days which makes the decision more difficult. But you can pretty much find any type of stick you want or get close and mod it up to how you want it to play.

Personally (and I’m a Head fanboy) you could stay within the head lineup and find any racquet to suit your style.

Also, if the complaint of the OP is related to not having enough HL options, I get that. But so many racquets now can be built up to be very HL without going to an extreme static weight.

 

[dr325i]

Ive demo the head gravity, the yonex 97, the blade 98, the pure drive, etc ..... all of them sucks

Theres no actually pro sticks on the market or what is going on

I assume Zverev, rublev, Basilasvilli, Sloane, Muchova, and many others using retail mold and layups are just not good enough for you…

focus on your technique and game and not on what you believe is the problem…

 

[esgee48]

It's the "Eye of the Beholder" Disorder. If you want something that feels like a racquet of old, get some of the 95 in² Wilson 6.1 models. Box beam frames are still available new and used. You just haven't found or created your frame yet. I note that there is a lot of variation in what you did try. Do you have any idea what specs fit your game? If you do not know what your objectives are, how will you know when you have found your frame? I won't even mention that there are many combinations of strings and tensions.

 

[myfavoritesportistennis]

It's the "Eye of the Beholder" Disorder. If you want something that feels like a racquet of old, get some of the 95 in² Wilson 6.1 models. Box beam frames are still available new and used. You just haven't found or created your frame yet. I note that there is a lot of variation in what you did try. Do you have any idea what specs fit your game? If you do not know what your objectives are, how will you know when you have found your frame? I won't even mention that there are many combinations of strings and tensions.

Yeah my final choice would be a Dunlop cx200 tour customized

 

[myfavoritesportistennis]

Do u guys recommend me demo the RF97 since ive noticed that the Blade 98 was too small sweetspot for me?
Or the prestige 98?

 

[Curtennis]

I’ve got my dads old Spalding Pancho Gonzales racquet. Lucky for you I’ll sell it for the same price of any of today’s junk racquets. $250 and it’s yours.

 

[PURETENNISsense]

Ive demo the head gravity, the yonex 97, the blade 98, the pure drive, etc ..... all of them sucks

Theres no actually pro sticks on the market or what is going on

What did you use before that you liked?

 

[PistolPete23]

Yeah Maybe theres good options, but nowadays the feel of the raquets its not really solid, the raquets feel like pure marketing and its like going to the toy store to buy a racquet toy for a children... not for a pro

What was your go-to racquet in the past that made you feel racquets today aren't as solid? Because honestly there's no real difference in racquet material between the 90s and now. It's still layers of carbon fiber. Also, you might be offended at this, but from the way you post, you come across as a teenager. There's nothing wrong with that of course if you actually are a teenager, other than that it makes your post title pretty irrelevant.

 

[Yamin]

Try one of these that has the specs you like.

Blade 98 18x20 v7, Blade Pro, clash 98, blade 104, prestige mid, speed pro, EEzone98+, prince 100p, pure strike.

 

[Icedorb217]

 

[blai212]

Im actually better than u and I have more knowledge about tennis racquets and customization than you so stfu

you sound pretty petty like a teenager rofl…the choices we have today are quite plentiful…if you don’t like the modern racquets then use an older stick. If you were really as good as you say, then racquet shouldnt matter

 

[joah310]

Im actually better than u and I have more knowledge about tennis racquets and customization than you so stfu

Bro no one's attacking you and the way you're acting, you're immature asf. Maybe learn some manners before asking for help. If you want a solid stick that is similar to older sticks, look for something with a box beam, foam filled, and thin beam. They're even getting softer recently.

 

[vsbabolat]

Im actually better than u and I have more knowledge about tennis racquets and customization than you so stfu

What is your level, playing experience, tennis racquet manufacture experience, and customization experiences? What is your desired weight, balance, and SW?

 

[PistolPete23]

Im actually better than u and I have more knowledge about tennis racquets and customization than you so stfu

Maybe, maybe not; you don't know me and I don't know you, so that statement is pretty meaningless. If your goal was to make me upset, it didn't work. I actually chuckled in amusement when I read it. Re racquet customization, I don't do much of it beyond adding lead tape (usually to 3 and 9) for stability and plow through when necessary, so I readily admit that there are many people much more knowledgeable than I am on this forum. But regarding racquet construction and materials, I do consider myself somewhat of a domain expert due to my training and educational background. Cheers!

 

[Casper777]

Maybe, maybe not; you don't know me and I don't know you, so that statement is pretty meaningless. If your goal was to make me upset, it didn't work. I actually chuckled in amusement when I read it. Re racquet customization, I don't do much of it beyond adding lead tape (usually to 3 and 9) for stability and plow through when necessary, so I readily admit that there are many people much more knowledgeable than I am on this forum. But regarding racquet construction and materials, I do consider myself somewhat of a domain expert due to my training and educational background. Cheers!

That's the perfect was to reply to forum trolls and this guy is a big one haha

 

[TennisHound]

Do u guys recommend me demo the RF97 since ive noticed that the Blade 98 was too small sweetspot for me?
Or the prestige 98?

Have you visited Wilson Pro Labs website?

 

[mhkeuns]

Maybe, maybe not; you don't know me and I don't know you, so that statement is pretty meaningless. If your goal was to make me upset, it didn't work. I actually chuckled in amusement when I read it. Re racquet customization, I don't do much of it beyond adding lead tape (usually to 3 and 9) for stability and plow through when necessary, so I readily admit that there are many people much more knowledgeable than I am on this forum. But regarding racquet construction and materials, I do consider myself somewhat of a domain expert due to my training and educational background. Cheers!

You're being much too kind.

 

[xaeniac]

TF40

Great racquet but hard on my arm

 

[hypervox]

You say you have a lot of knowledge about customizing racquets yet on all the other threads you created about shortening a racquet and pallets you seem to know very little

 

[Fairhit]

I think people really believe the marketing and when they try a racquet they expect to gain immediately a level or two, when that obviously doesn't happen they start to think that "today's racquets are garbage", is just a sign of a begginer, someone that still have to acquire the knowledge to really discuss about anything tennis related beyond surface level.

The best advice is to focus on technique and when the game has developed and a style has appeared, then you can start to look for a frame that complements your style but if you are searching for a frame that makes you play better, the answer is that there isn't one, is not the tool, is the ability of the carpenter.

 

[bcart1991]

Fair read, 6.5/10. Needs a touch more trolling and rage.

New racquets are just old racquets with different paint.

 

[PistolPete23]

Fair read, 6.5/10. Needs a touch more trolling and rage.

New racquets are just old racquets with different paint.

What’s changed is beam shape and layup. Also companies started using high modulus carbon fiber a lot more to enable light-weight but stiffer construction. Recent racquets have been trending towards heavier, more flexible offerings while still providing enough pop for the modern game.

 

[ryushen21]

The gravity felt like a toy,
the yonex felt weird
the blade felt too head light and small
the pure drive has no control

Weird is a very subjective term. Be more specific so we can provide better suggestions.

The Blade was too Head light? Must have been an off-spec one. Like way off spec.

The pure drive has control just in the form of spin and hitting more generalized areas rather than pinpoint accuracy.

What are you looking for in a racquet?

 

[PistolPete23]

What’s changed is beam shape and layup. Also companies started using high modulus carbon fiber a lot more to enable light-weight but stiffer construction. Recent racquets have been trending towards heavier, more flexible offerings while still providing enough pop for the modern game.

but yes, there is fundamentally no significant difference between old graphite racquets and newer ones.

 

[slipgrip93]

Ive demo the head gravity, the yonex 97, the blade 98, the pure drive, etc ..... all of them sucks

Theres no actually pro sticks on the market or what is going on

Yeah Maybe theres good options, but nowadays the feel of the raquets its not really solid, the raquets feel like pure marketing and its like going to the toy store to buy a racquet toy for a children... not for a pro

I feel somewhat similar in that I was disturbed by the fact revealed that most pros use their same racquet much of the time over a series of years of repaints to make it look like a current retail version, not that they likely had much of a choice in their sponsor deals with the manufacturers.
Like with Fed, when he moved on to the RF97, imo, he seemed to play along with Wilson's push to streamline their production to make only thicker beam and larger than 95 sq in racquets from then on. Maybe he, or others, or maybe whoever, could have pushed for continuing to keep the k90 going and continually reissued , (at least some 17mm beam racquet) since there were probably still many prostaff 90 type fans then, and the retail k90 seemed to be closest to the prostock version of a prostaff 90 that Fed used.

 

[Bambooman]

What’s changed is beam shape and layup. Also companies started using high modulus carbon fiber a lot more to enable light-weight but stiffer construction. Recent racquets have been trending towards heavier, more flexible offerings while still providing enough pop for the modern game.

Moist people don't actually play a modern game, even those who believe they do.

 

[Fairhit]

Moist people don't actually play a modern game, even those who believe they do.

What about dry people?

 

[Slicehand]

Prince textreme tour 100 310, try that and tell me its a bad frame

 

[Boubi]

RS 305

 

[Bambooman]

What about dry people?

They are still wet behind the ears.

 

[nvr2old]

I’d say try a pro staff 97 or as above a TF. Classic box beam feel and foam filled.

 

[Slicehand]

What about dry people?

Dry people always play flat, you should know that

 

[Soundbyte]

I've used tons of frames over the years. Pro Staff 85 was my main racket through college. There's tons of quality frames out there if you want the "classic feel"

The Prince Phantom and Textreme lines are great. The Volkl C10 Pro has been a staple for decades. The 330g Yonex VCore Pro is great. I personally think the Technifibre RS 305 is a great starting starting point to get a "modern yet classic" feel. RF97 is great too, but definitely stiffer than the OG Pro Staff.

Or buy custom Angell frames. They're the best "no mods needed" frames you can buy if your that picky. And Paul will help you hone in to exactly what you want

 

[tomkowy]

Heh, the paradox of choice. 20 years ago there were 5x less frames available and you could always find a clear favorite. Now there are so many great rackets that it’s hard to distinguish them.
If you miss old rackets buy yourself a used one. There is a lot of old Radical Tours on ****.

 

[myfavoritesportistennis]

For example the new limited wilson pro staff six one 100 v13 seems like a good choice but the bad thing is that theres no demos available

 

[myfavoritesportistennis]

of the 100 racquets ive tried only 2 or 3 are "above average"

 

[EggSalad]

of the 100 racquets ive tried only 2 or 3 are "above average"

And those 3 are?

 

[Dartagnan64]

I feel there are no bad rackets these days. They are all a shade of grey.

Theres no actually pro sticks on the market or what is going on

Are you a pro? If so, talk to your sponsor. If not, give it up. Rec players need rec sticks not pro sticks. They play a different game.